Folding rack



J. HUFF FOLDING RACK Sept. 24, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 21, 1961 INVENTOR.`

Sept. 24, 1963 J. Hull-F 3,104,763

FOLDING RACK Filed Sept. 2l. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 il l 17 47 1li/*15a United States Patent 3,104,763 FOLDING RACK John Huff, Chicago, Ill., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Louis A. Welt, Detroit, Mich. Filed Sept. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 140,625 9 Claims. (Cl. 211-178) This invention relates to racks for holding records, :tiles and the like and more specica-lly to an improvement over my device shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,992,745.

In my previous devices, I employed separate wire partitions land relied upon manual operation by the user to set the rack in folded or open positions. In general the most common use was to support the divider part of the rack which includes the wire partitions and the holder side portions, from between spaced support rods of a shelf. The only position of use of the rack was with the partitions disposed perpendicular to the side members, reliance being had upon the transverse resiliency of the rods as Well as that of the wire partitions in springing the legs of the U-shaped wire partitions in the plane of the partition to hold Ithe device in place. Furthermore, for small -articles it required that at least one shelf rod be disposed `between the side members of the rack to prevent the article from dropping through.

A general object of the invention is to provide la novel improved rack having partitions of novel form which obtain a simplication in manufacture and assembly with associated parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rack having wire partitions 4formed as an endles coil spring which biases the rack to open position, said rack being skewable with attendant stressing of the partitions which function through torsional loading of the coils to tightly engage associated side members, to which the coils are pivoted against spaced rods of an associated base or shelf.

Another object of the invention is -to provide a novel rack with coil spring-like wire partitions wherein the rack is skewa-ble -to advance the sides of the rack toward each other whereby to admit such sides, which function as holders, between rods spaced various distances apart, the partitions being disposed diagonally thus holding the associated records or tiles in eschelon formation to expose titles which are suggested to be placed along the margins.

A different object of the invention is to make the partitions in the form of an endless coil spring having an inverted U-shaped upper partition portion and a substantially straight lower portion which extends diagonally from a leg on one side of one partition to the leg on the opposite side of the other partition thus bridging the space between :adjacent partitions to provide a support for a tile or record placed therebetween.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rack having an endless `coil partition structure which eX- tends between a pair of side members to which the individual coils are pivoted within longitudinally spaced vertical slots therein, the said coils being separable and insertable into diierent slots to -vary the spacing, as desired,

between adjacent partitions. Y

Another object of the invention is to develop a novel interlock between the coils or partitions and the' side holders so that the rack may be held in various positions, that is squared or skewed.

More specifically, the invention comprehends a novel interlock and cam means preferably in the Iform of a attened round wire or rod which is located between a vertical wall of a side holder and a segment of a wire partition therebehind, the segment extending vertically through apertures in the side member in Iwhich it is pivotal to folded and open positions and the cam means being operative upon rotation of the rod to tightly engage ceY 2 the wire :segment to resist its pivotal movement whereby holding the segment and thus the related partition in desired position.

The invention also comprehends rack side members of novel form in which these members have a generally channel-shape including vertically spaced `generally parallel anges and an intervening wall, the wall having a pair of converging upper and lower portions which develop novel wedge surfaces therebetween as Well as a pocket longitudinally of the member for admitting a cam rod therein which has at least one lobe profile such that upon rotation yWithin the pocket the profile causes the rod to wedge between said surfaces and a plurality of 'Wire partition segments which are admitted through slots formed in said vertical wall portions and the anges.

The invention also has for its object a novel combination handle and foot structure which interlocks with the side members to support the rack independently of an associated shelf or base structure.

These and other objects 'and advantages inherent in and encompassed by the invention will become more readily apparent from the specification and lthe drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of my novel rack in use position, portions being broken away and Ashown in section;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view partly in section lof the structure shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the rack;

lFIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially on the line 4 4 of FIGURE l, showing the parts in locked position;

-FIGURE 5 is a cross-section similar to FIGURE 4 showing the parts in unlocked position;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the rack showing its folded position; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the rack in partly skewed position shown in association with a shelf structure; FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view.

Description of the Inventionl Describing the invention in detail and having particular reference to the drawings, there is shown a rack 2 having an upper divider, separator or partition structure 3 and in FIGURE 7 there is shown a bottom shelf or base portion 4. f

rDhe separator portion 3 comprises a coil spring structure 5 which has coils 6, each coil having an upper inverted U-shaped portion 7 and a substantially straight bottom portion 8. j

The bottom portion 8` of each separator section or coil 7 is located at the bottom of the pocket or space 9 developed between adjacent sections 7 and extends diagonally between the vertical lower end portions 10, 10 of legs 11, 11 of adjacent sections 7.

The end `portions 10, 10 are respectively entered through vertical slots 12, 12 in inwardly converging upper and lower wall segments 13, 14 and 13', 14 of holders or side members 16, 16 and are entered into notches 17, 18 and 17', 18 in upper and intermediate flanges 15, 15a and 19, 19a of respective holders 16, 16.

'Il-hc upper and lower segments 13, 14 and 13', 14 provide Wedge surfaces 13a, 14a and 13b, 14b opposing the end portions 10, 10 respectively and develop pockets 21, 21 which receive securing and locking cam elements generally designated :22, 22' which are in the form of rods which extend longitudinally of respective holders.

The rod 22, hasa cam profile which includes cam lobes 23, 24 and intervening ilats 25, 26. Ilhe lobe 24 engages surfaces 13a, 14a and lobe 23 engages the portions 10 in the locked position of the cam which is rotatable from the position shown in FIGURE 4 to that shown in FIG- 3 URE 5. Similarly rod 22 has a cam profile which includes cam lobes Z3', 24. Lobe Z3 engages surfaces 13b, 1411 and lobe 24 engages the portions 1G' in the locked position of the cam and is rotatable to a position disengaging the lobes.

Rods 22, `22 have combination stop and handle portions 28, 2S which are adapted to be grasped by the user to lock and unlock the rods. Y

' Opposite ends of the rack are provided with combination handle and support leg structures 30 each of which comprises a U-shaped upper portion 3i having an upper straight handheld portion 32 with depending legs 33, 33' which have lower end portions 34, 34 which enter slots 12, 12 and are disposed behind the rods 22, 22.

The lower end 34 merges into a securing and stop lug 36 which projects substantially normal to the plane of the structure 30 toward the adjacent end of the bar 1S below the intermediate liange 15a thereof. In the squared position of the rack the lug 36 enters a longitudinal inwardly opening slot 37 which is developed between ange 15a and an opposing lower horizontal flange 33 which joins with the ange 15a by a web 39.

The lower end of portion 34 merges into a stop and securing lug v36 which projectsy diagonally inwardly from the planevof the portion 3l and in the squared position of the rack extends inwardly as best seen in FIGURE 1. Lug 36 is disposed below ange 19a and when the rack is skewed enters into an inwardly opening longitudinal slot 37 which is developed by a lower horizontal flange 3S which is joined at its outer edge by web 39' with the outer edge of intermediate iiange 19a. j

The outer ends o-lugs 36, 36 merge into depending legs 50, 4d'. Leg 4t) abuts the outer edge 41 of flange 38 in the squared'position of the rack and leg 40' abuts edge 4l in the folded position. it will be understood that the structure 30 at the opposite end of the rack is reversed and the operation oi the respective portions is readily obvious.

It will be apparent as best seen in FiGURE 7 that the rack is positionable between a pair of parallel rods 45,

45 of a shelf 4 such as may be part of a table or the like.

The rods 45, 4S may-be spaced less than the maximum distance which holders 16, 16' may assume when the rack is square. inasmuch as the coil partition tends to assume a position of FIGURE 1, the torsional loading on the spring biases the'holders into separating movement whereby the rods 45, 45 which enter the pockets 47, 47 outwardly of the portions l0, l' are tightly engaged and support the rack.

For further security the cam elements may be rotated to locked positions whereby pivotal movement about vertical axes of portions l0, with respect to holders 16, 16 is resisted thus `holding the rack securely on the shelf in skewed position.

The folded position shown in FIGURE 6 maybe obtained by skewingithe rack and locking the cams. Such position may be used for storage or shipping.

`ln order to change the spacing between dividers several more vertical slots 12, l2' may be provided in the holders than the number of separators and the adjacent dividers entered in non-adjacent slots.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of the invention, various other features will be readily apparent from the structure and various modifications will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art which are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

l. A rack comprising a pair of substantially parallel side members, a spring having coils defining partitions, each partition having spaced portions pivoted to the side members on parallel axes, each side member having a channel section including a pair of vertically spaced flanges and an intervening Wall with vertical slots and communicating notches in the lianges admitting respective partition portions therein, and combined retain'mg and locking 4means Iwithin each side member between the respect-ive partition portions and the said intervening Iwall and having cam portions movable into camrning and released relation between said intervening wall and partition portions.

Q. In the rack of claim l, a base having portions outwardly of said side members and tightly engaged by the same 'attendant :to said spring tending'to bias said side *i members apart.

3. The invention according to claim l, said locking means comprising a rod rotatable about its longitudinal axis and having said cam portions disposed about the eriphery o the rod, said rod having circumferentially disposed positions in said cammed and released positions.

4. The invention according to claim 1, said locking means comprising anelongated retainer and locking element within each side 'member disposed between the wall thereof and respective partition portions, said locking element having peripheral' cam portions and rotatable to positions in eammed engagement with the wallL and respective partition portions for locking the latter against pivotal movement.

5. A rack according to claim l in which said spaced portions are generally vertical to accommodate skewing of the rack to position the partitions in echelon relation,

the intervening wall of said side members including a pair Y of wail sections converging away lfrom the respective par-` tition portions and providing wedge `faces opposing the same, said earn portions wedge-engaging the partition portions and intervening wall portions for locking Vsaidpartition portions against relative pivotal movement.

6. The rack of claim l, and combination handle toot and abutment means at each end of the rack having anb upper U-shaped portion including a pair of dependent legs pivoted to respective side members, lugs on the lower ends of the legs projecting beneath respective members and depending legs-on the outer tends of said lugs, said lug-s extending from said legs in a horizontal plane at diierent angles to the vertical plane of the U-shaped portion and said legs swingable about the ends of respective rside members and abuttable therewith in different posi-` tions of said partitions. Y

v 7. A rack comprising a pair of substantially parallel side members, each side member having a channel Section including a pair of vertically spaced 4ilanges and an intervening Wall with vertical slots and communicatingy notches in the anges adapted for admitting partition ele-Y ments, a partition structure comprising an endless coilV spring having upper inverted U-sections and bottom substantially straight sections, said U-sections each having? lower end portions at each side nested in said notches and pivoted on a substantially vertical axis to the respective side member, said rac-k ske-Wable from a squaredposi tion with attendant stressing of said partition structure, a

base having elongated side portions outwardly of said side members, said side portions tightly engaged by saidA side members attendant to said spring tending to bias said sidernembers apart.

8. in the rack of claim 7, said partition structure 'and' at least one side member having inter-engaging means to releasably hold said partition structure and side members in various positions against the resistance of said coil. v

9. The invention according to claim 7, said substantially straight bottom sections interconnecting a leg of one coil with a leg of an adjacent coil at the opposite side of the rack and providing an article support at lthe lower end of the space between `adjacent; coils.

References Cited in the le of this patent ,Y Y

' UNITED STATES PATENTS A 1,593,994 sind; 111131211926V v 2,992,745 A nur c l July is, 19,61 Y

FOREIGN PATENTS 1 sweden reb. 12. 194s 

1. A RACK COMPRISING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SIDE MEMBERS, A SPRING HAVING COILS DEFINING PARTITIONS, EACH PARTITION HAVING SPACED PORTIONS PIVOTED TO THE SIDE MEMBERS ON PARALLEL AXES, EACH SIDE MEMBER HAVING A CHANNEL SECTION INCLUDING A PAIR OF VERTICALLY SPACED FLANGES AND AN INTERVENING WALL WITH VERTICAL SLOTS AND COMMUNICATING NOTCHES IN THE FLANGES ADMITTING RESPECTIVE PARTITION PORTIONS THEREIN, AND COMBINED RETAINING AND LOCKING MEANS WITHIN EACH SIDE MEMBER BETWEEN THE RESPECTIVE PARTITION PORTIONS AND THE SAID INTERVENING WALL AND HAV- 